They left the room together. In the hotel office Buffalo Bill ordered his horse brought from the stable and made ready for him, and he paid his score. Latimer’s horse had been left in the street in front of the hotel, tied to a hitching post. In a little while the scout and Latimer were mounted; and they galloped together out of the town of Eldorado, drawing many remarks from those who saw them go. One of the witnesses of their departure was Pizen Kate. She had been having a dispute with a German shoemaker, who declared he had seen her missing husband the week before, and that he had but one leg, a statement that Pizen Kate disputed so warmly that the German was willing to modify it. “Vell, he mighd haf had two legs,” he admitted, “but one of dem vas of wood. He come py my shop in, and ven he put oop his foot here, to have me fix his shoe, he say he is no man, as he haf but one leg.” “But he didn’t say he was Nicholas Nomad! He didn’t say that?” “No; I didn’t ask him vat vas his first name.” Perhaps the German was a bit of a joker, for when he said this his blue eyes twinkled. Pizen Kate stopped her wordy and interesting dispute with him, and stared at the horsemen who went by--Buffalo Bill and John Latimer. “You know them men?” she snapped. “Neider uff dhem vas the man vat I see. Neider of dhem vas your hoosbant.” “Who said they was?” she snapped. “I said did you know ’em?” “One I haf seen pefore. But I ton’d know heem.” “You don’t mean Buffalo Bill, the tallest of ’em?” “No; I ton’d know him. I neffer haf seen him. Bud I t’ink me I voult like to haf dhe chob uff making his poots for him. Dey musd cost apout dwendy-five tollars a pair.” She left him in a hurry. “I’m goin’ to find out why them two fellers aire ridin’ out of this place so fast,” she threw back at him. “It looks curious. I wonder if they don’t know somethin’ about my missin’ husband? Huntin’ fer missin’ husbands is terrible tryin’ work.” CHAPTER III. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. When Buffalo Bill arrived with Latimer at the home of the latter on the Crested Mesa, he found a big, rambling building, with many wings, together with a number of other buildings and stables. Close by flowed a stream of water between high and rocky banks, where, Latimer said, his few cattle obtained their water. The place looked deserted. But a great surprise came to the scout when, on riding up to the big house, he was about to dismount, and a servant came rushing out to take the horses. He stared, open-mouthed, hanging half out of his saddle, for when his eyes fell on this servant he had been swinging to the ground, and that sight had stopped all movement on his part for an instant. The servant was a wizened little man, with a wide mouth and small, peering eyes. He was dressed in a half-border manner, and a revolver was belted to his waist. “Nick Nomad!” was the name that came from the scout’s lips.